Matthew 25: 31 – 46 (TNIV)
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
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Worship is the primary means by which the body of Christian believers gathers together in community and connects with Christ each week. I anticipate worship every Sunday of the year like a child anticipates Christmas Day. But getting to church on a Sunday morning wasn’t always so easy for me. Years ago, getting my three small children ready to go to church with me each Sunday morning brought unique challenges. Waking up early, making breakfast, feeding the kids, cleaning up breakfast, cleaning up their faces, getting them dressed in “church clothes,” packing snacks, buckling car seats, navigating parking lots and getting there on time could be complicated and frustrating. Often I would raise my voice and arrive to worship frazzled. One day I realized that the means of getting to worship actually defeated the experience of worshipping God. So I relaxed and made patience and kindness my priority on Sunday mornings. I mean what did it really matter if the kids’ hands were dirty or if their socks matched or if I got to church a little late?
As I began to focus on the relationships rather than the tasks, we all began to experience Christ in fresh and new ways. This is what today’s passage teaches us, that ultimately we are judged not on our outward appearances or pieties, but on how we treat people. It is through relating with people that we experience the incarnate Christ. Feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, harboring the stranger, visiting the sick and ministering to prisoners are works of mercy through which we meet Christ and are blessed with gratitude. How much more essential is it that we treat our family members and those closest to us like a guest? As you wrap up your final preparations for Christmas this weekend, remember to pause and discover the blessing in the ones closest to you.
— Rev. Nancy Pauls
Dear God, we are busy and want to get things done and get them done right. Sometimes we take for granted and we forget that Christ is manifest in all who we encounter each day. Remind us God to greet each individual as we would greet you. Amen
3 responses so far ↓
Dick Park // December 22, 2007 at 6:09 am
This, as well as all of the other advent messages I have received the past few days have been excellent. They have made it very easy for me to spend a few needed minutes in devotion each morning. I hope these can be continued 365 days a year.
Lisa Andrews // December 22, 2007 at 6:49 am
I thank you for today’s devotional, it really struck a chord with me. I agree with Dick Park about coninuing with a daily devotional.
Adam Hamilton // December 22, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Nancy, your devotion and the scripture reading for today fit perfectly with the special Christmas Eve offering we are receiving, beginning this evening in worship, for children in the inner city. Thank you!